Clay House 4-H Project Night

We decided to do something fun and hold our monthly meeting at the Clay House in Weston.  http://clayhouseonline.com/index.html

https://www.facebook.com/clayhouseonline/

Gretchen offered 2 projects, ceramic and fused glass.  Each member has a $15 scholarship available from our club's educational budget (thanks to Ringle Harvest Day Flea Market - that we set up)  http://ringleharvestday.blogspot.com/

It is a wonderful opportunity for our members to complete a project that they can show at the fair.  It is also a chance for those members who normally don't mingle at the meetings to sit at a table and work on a project and build relationships.  

I made a fused glass suncatcher - kissing fish.  I can't wait to see how it turned out.  Overall, it was a fun meeting.  

On a side note...oh how I laughed after...about this little guy.  Remember from my post about our 4-H demonstrations night?  One of my cloverbuds said to me..."you could nail me to a board and I still wouldn't do it" - he sure had me laughing at this meeting too.  What a personality - he is going to keep me on my toes.   I sure enjoy being involved.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Estate Sale of Ron & Ruth Christiansen

We are doing the estate sale for Ron & Ruth Christiansen.  Their grandchildren were in our 4-H group.  Ron & Ruth, in my opinion, achieved the "American Dream."  They worked hard to establish a trucking and excavating business, they left that legacy to their sons and grandchildren.  Ron Christiansen trucking bought a fair share of our market animals over the years.  We appreciated that.  When Anna was diagnoised with cancer, Ruth gave her a special gift, which still hangs on her shelf.  They were a special couple.

This estate has many nice items.  You can read the craigslist ad here:  http://wausau.craigslist.org/gms/5533111823.html

Here are a few pictures - I LOVE the buggies.  

The sale is Friday, April 15 and Saturday, April 16 at 9 am.  The address is 3220 Kramer Lane, Weston, WI.  For more information you can go to our facebook page:  Estately Yours https://www.facebook.com/EstatelyYoursCW/?ref=settings

Thanks Randy, Rick and Ryan for trusting me with your parent's sale.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Sometimes...I just want to be "Bad"

Have you ever wanted to just be "bad?"

Maybe yell at the person in line ahead of you.
Flip off the driver who cut you off.
Gossip about a friend who really offended you.
Drown yourself in a glass of something...you pick your vice.
Buy one of those pretty cakes - eat it all yourself.
Order some new items on line and hide it from your spouse.
Just get in the car and drive away...a day, weekend..no plans.
Or maybe even something - worse.

I have been thinking about my "50 things to do before I'm 50."  You know, I have always been the "good girl", the one the teacher leaves in charge, the girl who serves punch at prom, the only one who stands up for the bullied, the one who wouldn't read a cuss word in an oral reading in class - just to have everyone laugh at me...yes, I am inherently good.  My religious background, faith, experiences at an alter, Sunday school teachings - keep me on straight and narrow.

Sometimes, I just want to be bad...

I'm not saying I've always made the best chioces...I've been bad on an occassion or two.  I did have a few years of rebelling after high school - hey, it was the 80's.  Even this past summer in Peru, I didn't know why I liked the coca tea so much (cocaine leaves) everyone was drinking it.  I just happen to drink a lot of it and really liked how it made me feel.

This leads me to a dream I had last night.  You now, I work out all my issues in dreams, I've posted about it before.  The jist of the story is this:  I was trying to round up some sheep that got out of a fence.  For some reason, mine where the black ones (go figure) and they were running from me.  Just as I was about to herd them in, a person yelled my name from our woods, I didn't know him.  He asked to shake my hand, so I did.  He injected me with something in my hand.  I yelled for Al to help me.  I remember thinking...I just need to get behind the fence.  Then I woke up.

So, I guess, what I got from this dream is...I need to stay within my own fence..dang it...I really wanted to do something "bad."

Now, my "bad" and your "bad" probably are two different things.  I don't do things or indulge in things others do because of my OCD issues and the fact that I have made some pretty high fences for myself.    

So, for now, I guess, I will try my hardest to be "good" and rethink my "50 things to do before I'm 50"  By the way, Al was going to be "bad" with me...so, I wasn't keeping any secrets.  He liked the "bad" me he dated....but LOVES the wife and mother I am now.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

5 Funny Facts Friday - Things Procrastinators Say About Taxes

I tend to procrastinate - I know, hard to believe...(smile).  It's not like I haven't been thinking about my taxes.  Hey, I have a week....

5 Funny Facts Friday - what procrastinators say about taxes.

1.  "I'll start tomorrow" - I've said every night for three weeks.

2.  "Well, I don't have everything I need to get started."

3.  "I just need to get organized, then I will start."

4.  "I can't be the only one who hasn't started."

5.  "I'll just file an extension." BTW, I've never done that.

Yes, O.K., I will get to it this weekend...oh, is that #6?

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  
http://aruraljournal.blogspot.com/2016/04/random-5-friday_8.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+blogspot%2FHloo+%28A+Rural+Journal%29

http://lovemademyhome.blogspot.com/2016/04/five-on-friday_8.html

http://monroega.blogspot.com/2016/04/willy-nilly-friday-5-no-78.html

Week 29 - Magic Cookie

Cookie of the Week - Week 29 - Magic Cookie

This is a super easy recipe.  These cookies are so rich and delicious!  If  you like mounds bars, you'll love these.

Magic Cookies

1 14 oz. bag of coconut (I used unsweetened)
2 C. chocolate chips 
1/2 C. chopped pecans
1 14 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk

Mix all together...it's that easy.  Preheat oven at 350, line a baking sheet with parchment and drop by rounded tablespoons.  Bake 10-12 minutes.  Makes 3 doz.  

Rather addicting.

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Just a Bit of Sass

You know, not everyone can "pull off" polka dots and diagonal stripes.  That round faced, fashionista is me at age 10.  This picture was taken by my friend's mom on their front porch.  It was the first day of 5th grade, 1970 something, we were 10.  Michelle and I were best friends.  I walked to her house everyday and then we walked to school together.  Her little brother and sister were not too many steps behind us.  

I was blessed, really.  I didn't know it at the time.  I'm sure, I just came from a breakfast of french toast, a prayer, hug and kiss from my mom.  I am sure I was excited and was hopeful for a new school year.  I've always been optimistic.

Michelle posted this picture on her face book page quite a while back.  I had never seen it before.  I showed it to Al and he said..."yes, that sassy face is you..."  Then he said something like..."I know that look..." Sass runs in the family.  I am the last of 6 and I sure have a dose of it.  Maybe, the sass gene was saved until the end, or at least a large dose was.  

Is sass really a bad thing?  Maybe when you are little and sass your parents, teachers or elders - that is bad.  I can remember sassing my mom and running out the front door.  The whole time I was thinking..."oh, she is so fat and old she will never catch me...."  I was laughing the whole way, until I turned around and she was gaining on me.  I actually ran half a block and tried to crawl under some pine trees to escape.  Oh, she caught me, she grabbed the bottom of my foot and and pulled me out from the trees.  I don't need to tell you what happened next - it should have - that is what good parents do - they discipline.  Did my mom care she was in the neighbors yard, switch in hand?  No she did not!  She had enough of her own sass, and was wise enough to know "when" to use it.

My sass was and is a help, dare I say, a benefit even.  I know "it" has molded me into the strong woman I am now.  The wisdom on "when" to use it is coming along...slowly...but, Lord willing, I'll get there.  

I am thinking about this today because of something that happened to me recently.  I have to tell you that some days it is a challenge not to "use" my sass.  I have been thinking how thankful I am that my mom let me keep my sass.  Yes, she tried to teach me to curb it, mold it into something I could use as a benefit the best she could.  Now, I look at her examples on how she used her sass.  Boy, we sure have some examples! (wink, wink).

Some people have sass and abuse it.  They think they can use it to show "strength."  Bossy, using words to be a bully and be mean - that's not showing strength.  I laugh when I see or hear this.  I think, oh give me a minute with them, I'll have'em crying like a baby.   That is how confident sassy people are.  

It is a strong person who knows when to use their sass; how to use their sass.  If you were born with an extra dose of sass, use it as a gift, a voice - stand up for yourself and others around you.  Sassy people are noticed - good or bad.  Be good - good and sassy - I say.  

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin. 

Linked to:  http://timewarpwife.com/titus-2sday-link-up-party-43/

P.S. (a few hours after I posted this)  

A funny story about my sass.  My niece had a boyfriend who was quoted as saying..."there are only 2 people in Wausau I'm afraid of...one is your mom, the other your aunt DickyBird...and I grew up in the projects on the south side of Chicago"  - so, ya...I've got some sass.  By the way, he wasn't being "good" to my niece so I let him "know" how I felt about it!

What to KEEP, What to SELL, What to DONATE

I was asked to teach a class/seminar on antiques for a fundraiser for the HCE (Home and Community Education) Club a part of the UW Extension office.  I was honored that they thought of me.  This was a first for me, however something on my 50 things to do before 50 - teach a county wide seminar.

I was thinking on what to talk about - the session is 50 minutes long.  As my faithful followers know, I have been on a journey of letting go of things over the past few years.  So, I decided to talk about that.  I titled the class, "What to KEEP, What to SELL, What to Donate."

The above picture is hard to see, but I did a slide presentation to go along with my talk.  Thank you Anna Doll for helping me!!  

I won't lie, my anxiety triggers were starting to kick in...but, I relaxed myself and prayed...I was prepared, had lots of notes and things to share...after all, I am good at talking.  

As the ladies came in from their previous session, they all took my packet and commented on the first slide (my hoarded pole building - the before picture of my "It's not too SPOOKY - Vintage Pop Up" I hosted at our farm.  I heard lots of.."oh, that looks like my basement," - yep, these ladies are going to "get" this session.

As I shared, I asked questions of them and I was so pleased with all the note taking.  I had comments like "great idea" and such.  I will admit, having Anna there and her helping me with the slides was a calming reassurance!

I included in my session "Whatcha Got" - I did bring several items from home to talk about too.  I had each lady pick an item and guess what it was, age and value.  I shared tips on how to figure the age, where to research and how to place a value on their item.  I could have used another 30 minutes.  

I really enjoyed this!  I am considering hosting a seminar like this again.  I already can think of things to add to it.  I have a venue space in Wausau that I can reasonably rent - so, if you are interested, keep watching my pop up page:  It's all a Rave - Vintage PopUp Sales.  https://www.facebook.com/itsapopup?ref=hl

Blessings from Ringle, Wisconsin.  

Linked to:  http://strangersandpilgrimsonearth.blogspot.com/2016/04/the-art-of-home-making-mondays-please.html